text:
When DeMain Is Away, How Does the Madison Symphony Play?
Julian Wachner, who conducted the MSO in John DeMain's absence this past weekend.
I hope no one is surprised to learn that, while Madison Symphony Orchestra music director John DeMain is in the midst of his twentieth season with the orchestra, he is still very much in demand in other places. So while DeMain is hopping flights to and from Virginia Opera (getting his usual strong notices for Carmen) and laying the groundwork for Madison Opera's upcoming Dead Man Walking, Julian Wachner took his place for this past weekend's concerts at Overture Hall (which had been the plan all along).
Wachner's resume indicates he is a rising star very much risen already, particularly in the choral world, with his positions as Director of Music and the Arts at Trinity Church (the famed colonial building on Wall Street) and music director of the Washington Chorus. His performance Friday night gave more than ample evidence that his reputation should remain on the rise for some time.
The MSO players didn't seem to mind that Wachner conducts without a baton, having no problem realizing a blistering "Slavonic Dance No. 1" by Dvorak. But the big number of the first half gave all concerned varied opportunities for color, nuance and expression—with no lack of the big moments.
The work was the Symphonie Concertante for Organ and Orchestra of Joseph Jongen, a piece that was given the honor of the first work performed on the Overture Hall organ in 2004. The 1926 opus is a fascinating composition, in the opening movement treating the organ mostly as a special musical spice, and not giving any clues as to stylistic influences on the composer.
But soon enough organist Nathan Laube had plenty of knuckle-busting (and ankle-wriggling) passages, beginning with the ensuing "Divertimento." Here and later, one can hear wisps of Debussy, Respighi and other post-Romantic voices. But Jongen created a fabulous showpiece all his own, and every section of the orchestra had a chance to revel in a glorious palette of textures. The audience response was to immediately come to their feet, and in the course of three curtain calls, the applause intensified when the orchestra was asked to stand. And it must be said the performance made a strong argument for some of us (I'm first in line) to make a point of getting to next month's last—or any of next season's—organ performances at Overture Hall.
The second half was an opportunity to showcase the Madison Symphony Chorus and four vocalists, some of whom are already known for fine work here in town. The Requiem of Mozart is, of course, that famously unfinished work, shrouded in mystery and misinformation. But even when sorted out neatly in J. Michael Allsen's always cogent and delightful program notes, it cannot deliver as complete a dramatic impact as some later works of the genre.
But the problems on this occasion were more pedestrian, and seemed to result from a miscalculation of the seating arrangement: With the four vocal soloists well behind Wachner, they did not always produce lines that were hand-in-glove in sync with Wachner and the other forces. This was particularly noticed in the "Recordare," but later everyone was on the same page (even if Wachner wasn't using a score!).
Wachner favored a big and bold canvas for the work, befitting the large chorus and modern instruments (although the clarinet players appeared to be playing basset horns—a nice touch). The famous "Dies irae" was furious, but later in the "Lacrymosa" the violins provided a haunting, suitably weeping, motif.
Soprano Emily Birsan and contralto Daniela Mack are no strangers to Madison, and it was a pleasure to hear their continued artistic growth and fine shadings of vocalism. They were joined by tenor Wesley Rogers and bass Liam Moran, and the foursome was nicely matched in timbre and balance. The MSO Chorus, expertly trained as always by Beverly Taylor, provided all the impact Wachner asked for without sacrificing clarity and beauty.


text:
Customized folders are not displayed Home Products Folder Marker Pro Folder Marker Home Folder Marker Free Everyday Folder Icons Compare Versions Download Buy Now Support Technical Support Knowledgebase On-line Help Write E-Mail Knowledgebase Folder Marker Help Desk Ask a question: Loading knowledgebase suggestions... Customized folders are not displayed Solution Question: I have customized folders on my PC with help of Folder Marker, but they have not seem to be changed. The color of my folders is still yellow. What should I do? Answer: The issue may be related to the icons cache. Please, try to clean it. Article details Article ID: Category: Knowledgebase Date added: Views: Rating (Votes):
Clker.com is owned by Rolera LLC, 2270 Route 30, Oswego, IL 60543 support\at\clker\dot\com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Farmers of Tiruvarur district have appealed to the State government to declare Tiruvarur district as drought hit and pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre to farmers.
They said that kuruvai could not be raised for want of canal water and the standing samba is also facing water crisis now. Farmers of the district lost heavily this year, they said speaking at the farmers' grievances day meeting here.
P.R.Pandiyan, Tiruvaur district assistant secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam said that PWD should manage turn system of water release properly. Vennar should get priority in water release over Cauvery and other rivers as Vennar irrigates tail end areas in Tiruvarur district. At a time when farmers are facing water problem, even the available water was not properly released into canals, he alleged.
S.Nadarajan, District Collector presided over the meeting. Agriculture Department officials participated.


text:
Happy Halloween! As I get older, some holidays are starting to feel like ordinary days but today actually felt like Halloween. This morning, I woke up at 4:45 to meet Lisa at the gym and couldn't help but notice the creepy fog in the air. I think this was the first year that Lisa and […]
About Us
Hi, welcome to Healthy Diaries and Thank You for stopping by! Our names are Maria & Lisa and we're 26 year-old identical twin sisters. Our blog is a look into our lives as we live life being healthy and active. Find out more here... -
- [adsense]


text:
Suitable for cheese and junket making.
Mucor Miehei (Fully Approved Milk Clotting Enzyme).
Contains Cows' milk
Access to and use of this website is subject to our Terms & Conditions. © mySupermarket Limited, 2005-2014. All rights reserved.
Compare your local Tesco Just Wholefoods VegeRen Vegetarian Rennet (30ml) prices with other online Groceries stores at mySupermarket.co.uk. Get price comparison, great deals, special offers and more!
*Smart Swap is a registered trademark of the Licensor and is used under licence


text:
Your email and personal information are confidential, and will not be sold or rented. See our Privacy Policy for more information.
Read about common budget pitfalls brought on by bring your own device (BYOD) and five tips for meeting expectations using mobile expense management (MEM).
The road to BYOD productivity doesn't have to be a long one, just remember to chart your course before you embark. If you are just getting started, take the time now to learn from mistakes made by others.
How did their focus on business objectives help Intel churn out 2.75 million productivity hours from its employees in less than a year?
From the eyes of IT, the mixing pot of smartphones, tablets and their mobile operating systems can appear daunting. However, with the right tools, iPads can be managed alongside Androids, BlackBerrys and Windows Phones with little time or effort.
Bring your own device (BYOD) should not be perceived as a stand-alone mobile strategy. Rather, the crux of an evolving digital ecosystem within the enterprise.
With over 150 million employee-owned smartphones in the enterprise today, it would appear the bring your own device trend is here to stay. A recent report by Juniper Research suggests there's no peak in sight for device adoption.
Although the enterprise device environment has grown and diversified, new devices can be accommodated for without squeezing your budget dry.
A recipe that business and IT leaders can use to create a safe and successful bring your own device (BYOD) policy.
Mountain Lion's list of supported models has grown smaller in comparison to Snow Leopard.
On Cnetnews.com I saw the following headline "Adobe reports 'critical' flaw in Flash, Acrobat." Unlike the typical viewer comments, I immediately thought about IT workers reading this, and what their reactions would be. I thought about the person who actually has to do something about this rather than argue why some Apple products are so much better since they don't have to worry about Flash. So what about the folks in IT who need to understand and address the impact?
android apple blackberry bring your own device byod cloud-computing emm enterprise mobility management ios ipad iphone it maas360 mam mdm mobile-device-management mobile application management mobile device management mobile security mobility mobility-as-a-service mobility-management security smartphone tablet
MaaS360 by IBM
How intertwined are the cloud and mobile? ibm.co/1DjTczn
MaaS360 by IBM
MaaS360 by IBM
Protect your business against malicious #malware threats with Mobile Threat Management: bit.ly/1CsR89D


text:
Costa Outraged at AT&T Call Center Closure
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:47
- Hits: 0
Merced, CA- Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) expressed extreme frustration over AT&T's announced closure of the company's two call centers at the Castle Commerce Center in Atwater. The closure will result in the loss of 400 jobs, the largest private sector layoff in Merced County in more than two decades.
"These jobs are critical to the hardworking families of Merced County and their loss will have a negative economic impact throughout the county," said Rep. Costa. "I am personally reaching out to AT&T Assistant Vice President Jack Wright, urging him to reconsider the closure of these call centers. Those at AT&T responsible for this decision should sit down with representatives of Merced County to determine what alternatives are available to allow these call centers to remain open."
On Friday AT&T announced to its employees that the call centers would be closing by the end of August. Employees have until July 7, 2014 to consider relocating to another call center in Southern California, Washington, Iowa, or Colorado. Those who would consider relocating are being offered $5,000. Employees would have less than two months to find new housing, change their children's schools, sell and ship their personal items, and travel hundreds, if not thousands of miles to their new place of employment. Employees would be expected to report to the new location by August 26, 2014.
"It is completely unacceptable that AT&T is giving its employees, some of whom have worked there for more than a decade, 10 days to either uproot their lives or lose their jobs," Costa went on to say. "At the very least an extended timeline and an increased compensation package should be provided to these displaced employees."


text:
Apr 12th, 2009, 11:52 PM
I expected Caroline's voice to be much higher for some reason. When I heard her talk, I was like "woah". It made her seem a lot older. I also heard a small clip of Sorana Cirstea and her voice sounds higher than I expected it to. I also expected Chakvetadze's voice to be higher. Anyone else have any similar experiences?


text:
recipe reviews for:
"This terrific dish is loaded with succulent Mediterranean vegetables."
My Profile | Cooks I Like Reviews | Photos | Recipes | Menus | Blog
Cooking Level: Intermediate
Cooking Level: Expert
Chili, brats, and more to feed your hungry football fans.
Cheer on your team with a little something sweet.
Delicious recipes, party ideas, and cooking tips! Get a year of Allrecipes magazine for $7.99!
Summer's tastiest vegetables converge in this classic casserole.
Vegetables and cheese ravioli are baked in a flavorful tomato sauce.
Colorful vegetables bake in a garlicky tomato sauce.


text:
Search for a name or phrase
Search for a name or phrase
using quick search
Find the right name for your baby using our advanced search tool
's Stuff
My Name Ratings
Review and change the name ratings you've made throughout the site
My Lists
Create a private list of your favorite names or share it with the Nameberry community to flex your naming muscles
Names I Follow
Manage all the name subscription emails you've set up
Account Settings
Change your email address and your password
Or Register
Would you like to follow Minna?
You will receive an email (no more than once per day) summarizing any new mentions of Minna on Nameberry. Would you like to follow Minna?
Gender: F
Origin of Minna: German, diminutive of Wilhelmina
Meaning of Wilhelmina: German, feminine variation of Wilhelm, "resolute protection"
Popularity: this week.
One of those pan-European nickname names most popular these days in places like Finland.
Pop Culture References for the Name Minna
Login or Register to Contribute
Minna Hakkinen, former Prime Minister of Finland on TV series Veep
Pop Culture References for the Name Minna
Daily Delivery
Exclusive Nameberry picks, direct to you.


text:
Automotive Digital Marketing ProCom
Professional Community for Car Dealers, Automotive Marketers and Sales Managers
Offering advice or assistance to dealer management looking to staff any position within the dealership. Need to know what content really captures attention and motivates the best to respond? Want to know where to place an ad that gets the most response? Other questions? 800-878-5090 line 1. http://tinyurl.com/brztkxy
Tags: automax, automotive, dealership, recruiting, staffing
Ernie knows of what he speaks. I know that is true because I have scheduled several hundred interviews for dealers in just the past few days. Call Ernie now! You won't be sorry!!!
Welcome to
Automotive Digital Marketing ProCom
Please use the "Sign Up" link above to complete your registration form and become a member of the industry's leading Automotive Marketing and Internet Sales Professional Community. ADM members have access to resources, connections and private events that provide them with a competitive advantage.
ADMPC is a Network for Car Dealers, Automotive Marketing, Advertising and Management Pros sharing Digital Strategies and Execution Tactics.
January 29, 2015 from 12pm to 1pm – http://www.dealeron.com/webinar/events/how-to-increase-your-dealership-intelligence/
0 Comments 1 LikeFebruary 5, 2015 from 12pm to 1pm – http://www.dealeron.com/webinar/events/why-you-need-a-bdd/
0 Comments 1 LikeFebruary 12, 2015 from 12pm to 1pm – http://www.dealeron.com/webinar/events/5-processes-to-improve-gross-volume-for-your-used-car-operation/
0 Comments 1 LikeFebruary 19, 2015 from 12pm to 1pm – http://www.dealeron.com/webinar/events/grow-your-fixed-ops-with-this-digital-gameplan/
0 Comments 1 LikeMarch 24, 2015 to March 26, 2015 – Rosen Shingle Creek Resort | Orlando, FL
0 Comments 2 LikesJune 16, 2015 from 7am to 7pm – Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, CA
0 Comments 0 LikesJune 17, 2015 from 7am to 7pm – Ritz-Carlton, Maine del Rey, CA
0 Comments 0 LikesGetting too many emails from ADM? Click mailbox below to control which types of alerts and updates you are sent......
© 2015 Created by Ralph Paglia.


text:
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program: Request for Applications
USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has released the 2014 Request for Applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). Applications are due June 12.
From www.nifa.usda.gov:
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of more than $19 million in grants to help train, educate and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of agricultural producers through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP).
"USDA is committed to the next generation of America's farmers and ranchers because they represent the future of agriculture and are the backbone of our rural economy. As the average age of farmers continues to rise, we have no time to lose in getting more new farmers and ranchers established." said Secretary Vilsack. "Reauthorizing and expanding the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is one of the many resources the 2014 Farm Bill gave us to build America's agricultural future. Through this program, we can build a diverse next generation of farmers and ranchers."
Organizations can apply to BFRDP for grants to provide education, training, technical assistance and outreach for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and managers of non-industrial private forest land who have been farming or ranching for 10 years or less and those who aim to start. Priority will be given to projects that are partnerships and collaborations led by or including non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and school-based agricultural educational organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach.
Learn more about this opportunity and apply today.


text:
About us
Fx amplification is a company dedicated to very high quality tube amplifiers, with highest care to every detail. High quality components and very nice wiring ensure a very long lifetime. With an history of hundreds of amplifiers built, Fx amplification has a very great experience and is able to fulfill all your musical needs.
World of wonders
Quality has always been our goals at Fxamps. Every Fxamps amplifier is created like a piece of art.
Perfect wiring
All Fxamps amplifiers are perfectly wired, with the greatest possible care, and the best wire available, to ensure a totally clean sound, with no buzz, hum or hiss, and a virtually unlimited lifetime. We also use superior components, selected, from the best manufacturers available (Sozo, Jupiter, F+T, …).
Superior assembly
Like the electric circuits, the mechanical parts of the amps a treated with an equal care. All Fxamps amplifiers use mainly renowned brand, made in Europe or USA, to ensure the best longevity to your amp. Everything is finely assembled following strict procedure, with stainless screws, on the strong, thick aluminium chassis.
Our models
- All
- Amplifiers
- Cabinets
- Pedals


text:
The Graduate Council reviews and makes recommendations on graduate fellowships, course proposals, new degree programs, along with revision and interpretation of the Graduate School rules and regulations. The Graduate Council consists of 15 members of the Graduate Faculty. Representation is apportioned to professional schools and divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences in proportion to the number of full-time Graduate Faculty members in each school and division. Each professional school and division containing Graduate Faculty has at least one representative.
Term Expires May 2015:- Donald Gouwens: Education
- Beth Huebner: Social Sciences
- Alan Heisel: Fine Arts
- Wendy Olivas: Math/Natural Sciences
- Carl Bassi: Optometry
Term Expires May 2016:
- Susan Kashubeck-West: Education
- Ben Torbert: Humanities
- David Kimball: Social Sciences
- Michael Griffin: Math/Natural Sciences
- Haitao Li: Business
Term Expires May 2017:
- Wilma Calvert: Nursing
- Matthew Taylor: Social Sciences
- Adrian Clingher: Math/Natural Sciences
- Maris Gillette: Social Sciences
- Donald Sweeney: Business
Judith Walker de Felix: Ex Officio Chairperson
Wesley R. Harris, Associate Dean
Meetings 2014-15 at 1:30 p.m. 101 Woods Hall
Held on Fridays from September - March
September 26, 2014
October 24, 2014
November 21, 2014
January 23, 2015
February 20, 2015
March 20, 2015
Meeting Minutes:
Past Graduate Council Members
Past Graduate Faculty Committees


text:
& Deals
& Celebrations
or Login
Join FREE Log In
Served this 30-minute salmon dish hot off the grill with home-made peach-mango salsa, for a delicious meal.
©2014 General Mills, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This information will only be used to send an email to your friend(s) and will not be saved. Please read our Privacy Policy.
Make diagonal cuts in salmon every 2 inches, without cutting through the skin.
Place cedar plank with salmon on the grill.
Baking or broiling fish (or meat) on a wooden board is a method handed down from Native Americans. Grilling salmon this way imparts just a hint of wood flavor.
Carnitas Caliente with Stone-Fruit Salsa
Mango-Jalapeño-Chicken Salad in Cumin Tortilla Bowls
Shrimp Enchiladas with Sweet Corn Sauce
Cravin' Crab Enchiladas
Caribbean Salsa Chicken
Salmon Cakes


text:
Kim K. Plays Peekaboo With Her Baby Belly
Kardashian dressed up her baby bump in a navy blue blazer and lace top while out with friends in Beverly Hills.
On Thursday, the Kourtney & Kim Take Miami star was all smiles as she headed out with friends in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Kardashian, 32, sported a sophisticated braided updo while flaunting her growing belly in a navy blue lace top, matching blazer and jeans for the outing.
Earlier in the day, the reality TV star took to her Celebuzz blog to send a birthday wish to her sister Kourtney, who turned 34."Happy Birthday Kourt! You have always mentored me even if you never knew it. You're my big sis and I look up to you so much!" Kardashian wrote. "I probably harass you now with all of the baby questions I ask you but it's because you are so good at it. You are an amazing mom, sister & best friend! I idolize YOU! Xo."
Launch the gallery, above, for photos of Kim Kardashian out and about in Beverly Hills. What do you think of her latest maternity outfit?


text:
-Window display raises awareness of a disease that affects one million Americans-
NEW YORK, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) is teaming up with EHE International to raise awareness of the fight against Parkinson's disease. For the month of August, EHE International has kindly donated a 115-square-foot window space at 10 Rockefeller Plaza to showcase the many ways that ordinary citizens can support the Foundation through its grassroots fundraising arm, Team Fox.
"Team Fox members play a critical role in our efforts to push Parkinson's disease research forward," says Katie Hood, CEO of MJFF. "EHE International's generous donation will help our Foundation reach new members who are eager to support our work to find a cure for this devastating disease."
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects roughly one million Americans and six million people worldwide and is the 14th leading cause of death worldwide. While the average age of onset is sixty, the disease can strike patients as early as age 30. There is no known cure for Parkinson's disease. Current treatments mask some symptoms but bring serious side effects, lose efficacy over time, and do not slow or alter disease progression.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation was founded in 2000 to speed the development of better Parkinson's treatments -- and to ultimately find a cure -- through an aggressively funded research agenda. To date, the Foundation has funded nearly $150 million in research toward a cure. Over $6 million has been raised through Team Fox, launched by the Foundation in 2006 to support those all over the country who had already made it their personal mission to raise money for MJFF in unique, creative and fun ways. Members of Team Fox w
SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Copyright©2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |


text:
Photo Galleries
< MyNorthwest
7M enrolled doesn't guarantee health law's success
7M enrolled doesn't guarantee health law's success
1 of 3 |
FILE - This March 31, 2014, file photo, shows a waiting filled with applicants waiting to be called during a health care enrollment event at the Bay Area Rescue Mission in Richmond, Calif. Seven million sign-ups proves there's an appetite in the country for President Barack Obama's health care law, but it doesn't guarantee success for America's newest social program. The top priorities for the administration now guaranteeing that premiums remain affordable next year, making enrollment simpler, and improving subpar customer service. Republican opponents also face some tough questions: as millions of people get insurance, how long can the GOP's repeal strategy remain a viable political option? (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
Photo by Associated Press
Photo by Associated Press
1 of 3 |
Original article: 7M enrolled doesn't guarantee health law's success
More Photo Galleries
Meet the Shermanator and the mad scientist-mechanic who built it
If you dare to step into Mike Fobes' garage in Auburn, you'll find the work space is filled with outlandish, somewhat spooky mechanical creations. -
Arizona preparing for Super Bowl XLIX
From the final touches on the University of Phoenix Stadium to the placement of the Super Bowl XLIX Lombardi Trophy, Arizona has been busy readying for the NFL Championship game. -
The 21st annual SAG Awards
Stars honor each other at the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. -
The 2015 Miss Universe crowned
A new Miss Universe is crowned as the Miss Universe pageant in Miami, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. -
Seahawks arrive in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLIX
The Seahawks have landed for the start of Super Bowl week in Phoenix, and hit the ground running with a series of press conferences and meetings ahead of Sunday's game with the New England Patriots.


text:
Patina Finishes on Aluminum
Structure is a main element when defining your aluminum trim decoration. One of the great things about working with aluminum as the canvas is that it is friendly for any structure that you can imagine. A common request is to make the aluminum trim look like it is worn or has been scratched up - the patina or distressed type of structure. This adds some character to the finish and can be manipulated with varying degrees of scratching, brushing and colors to achieve just the right look to bring your design to life. This video walks through some options and is a starting point for discussion.


text:
You are here:
We have a great selection of new and donated shoes for sale, including designer heels, casual flats and trainers.
Results 1-9 of 9
Clarks size 7 brown Media Gossip leather boots
BNWT Clarks, size 6D brown leather Mary Janes
Clarks, size 6 brown slide sandals
Clarks, size 7.5 grey high heeled pumps
Clarks, size 5.5 brown Mary Jane style shoes
Clarks, size 4 brown leather platform sandals
Clarks, size 6 grey court shoes with black bow
Clarks light tan slip-ons Size 4
Clarks Size 7 Brown Mule Clarks - Size: 7 - Brown - Mules
Page 1 of 1 | Showing 1-9 of 9
What we do
Get involved
Make a donation
© 2015. Oxfam is a registered charity in England and Wales (no 202918) and Scotland (SC039042). Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International.


text:
Weidong and Nerdlab
This photo was shot on film. Taken by weidong with a Hasselblad 500 C/M loaded with Ilford XP2 film (available in our Online Shop) in ferrara, Italy. These tags describe this photo: ferrara, weidong, nerdlab, tyron_lannister, ilford, hasselblad, and prettyinmad. Date: 2012-05. This photo can also be found in the album Ferrara Ilford.Please login to get more out of this site
You are currently not logged in, do so now to add comments, like articles as well as photos, submit to competitions, translate articles and gain access to unlimited photo upload! If you are not registered yet, go here to find out more about Lomography and join now! If you just want a limited account for now you can use Twitter or Facebook. We would love to have you as a member here!
91 people like this photo
Liking photos helps us to present the best ones to you and others. 91 people like this photo. 91 people like this photo: bravopires, crade1, jeanhuang, annita, elettroshock, n3rd, atria007, ryszardl70, z790406, gocchin, zoe191, marcel2cv, stepi, suizidekid, anafaro, goonies, sondyy, srmarcus, tomkiddo, fmadera, cc-in-paris, lomalex, arurin, agenciafleur, fne, pandaisdead, clickiemcpete, rewd, tagliatele_la_testa, modern_nmt, 87lomotempura, puppettina, fartstorm, ironsymphony, realrampage, claudialarocca, albeelee, silviaphoto77, he-mo, plyshbel, neanderthalis, primula, nerdlab, caroni, paula412, volker-jp, earlybird, rik041, minchi, fizzynothing, gatokinetik-o, gengorou, inine, lawypop, kekskonstrukt, colagold, norweegie, roby, icomewhenieatcaponata, gibri, dreadlockboy, superlighter, grazie, porty, mikahsupageek, eola21, bloomchen, olivier_g, why-yu, i5rovic, uncle_jay, romson, lauralaula, artistaconvidado, konbiw, weedos, tobiasdelfa, hanifmaidin, clownshoes, giovannidecarlo, biri, dogma, tamsoam, jasiehasie, bombuzaka, litleandi, lady_diana, catarella, ricoinbrooklyn, magtokidoki, and tall_bastard.
No comments yet, be the first
Where is this?
Nearby popular photos – see more
Nearby LomoLocations
Lomographic Italy: Complaining About Their City, But Still the Only One Where I Choose to Live In
When he proposes to talk about my city, I'm always fair. Maybe someone reading this short ar…


text:
just a poll, vote for game of the year. im just picking the most popular and highest rated games of 06.
Printable View
just a poll, vote for game of the year. im just picking the most popular and highest rated games of 06.
Gears of War
Viva Pinata.
or Company of Heroes.
i've no idea why i made this... really dont have a clue what to vote for since the only games on my list that i played were FFXII, NSMB, Resistance, and Tekken. i really want to play company of heroes and Gears but alas my little compie is probably to weak for COH and theres no way in hell im buying a 360.
meh...tough call. Zelda TP was great...FF XII was great...gears is good, resistance is good. Okami was good...Guitar hero was good. =\
i guess imma go w/ FF XII, since i like RPGs a lot. Cuz i like the fact that they spend a great deal of time on the story.
Im voting for FFXII since its been a long and fun journey all the way. Im 85 hours in and almost to the end. I don't think ill finish it before the 100 hour mark... and when I look at that. I know my purchase was wholly worthwhile.
Tekken for me:P was a bit disappointed about ffxii
Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, which most of you people have probably never heard of nor its in the poll.
^ I believe everyone's heard of it. But yeah SD, i think i have like 70+ hours on it, and yeah, definently gotta agree on the fact that my $$$ spent on it was well worth it.
Honestly thats all I care about in a game. If i plop down 54 bucks and change i want a freakin adventure. I think the shortest single player game I ever felt satisfied with was Ratchet and Clank and that took me a full 25 hours to beat.


text:
Welcome to Smogon! Check out the Smogon Starters Hangout for everything you need to know about starting out in the community. Don't forget to introduce yourself in the Introduction and Hangout Thread, too!
Welcome to Smogon Forums! Please take a minute to read the rules.
dude , wheres my weather??!?!? ( a non weather team ) peacked top 100
Discussion in 'BW OU Teams' started by Mizuhime, Apr 18, 2011.


text:
Author Archives: admin
Sub Zero Ice Cream Named Utah's #1 Ice Cream Shop via POPSUGAR
September 20th Sub Zero Ice Cream & Yogurt was notified that the popular website POPSUGAR had recognized the company as the #1 Ice Cream Shop in the state of Utah! We are more than pleased to receive this title and wear it proudly! With great taste and fun experiences, it is easy to see why the website decided on Sub Zero Ice Cream. Read their thoughts on Sub Zero Ice Cream, and all of 50 states' #1 Choices here. Thanks … Continue reading
Fav Flav Friday: "The Break-Up"
This summer Sub Zero Ice Cream kicked off a fun new campaign, called "Fav Flav Friday", that has given our company the opportunity to see how creative our customers truly are! We have had a variety of submissions, from black licorice combined with blackberry, to Lime Ricki. Friday's Fav Flav came from our Facebook friend Amanda who gave her custom creation its own name, "The Break-Up". She and a few friends had a great time concocting this delicious mix of … Continue reading
The Emmy's Golf Tournament!!
This last Monday, Sub Zero had the opportunity to go to the Emmy's Golf Tournament in California! It was so much fun for everyone there! Check out these cool pictures! And then why not freeze some hats?? And of course one of Jerry and Naomi! For more pictures check out our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/subzeroicecream
September Sensation!!
Make sure to drop by and try out our sensation for September!! Cinnamon Toast Crunch! Getting back into the school schedule is hard, but as long as you grab yourself a quick bowl of cereal before you run out the door, all's well. And after you make it through the whole day, you have to give yourself some kind of positive reinforcement, so why not have a little more of that cereal… in the form of ice cream?!? And what … Continue reading
Provo Food Blog!
Check it out! We were featured in the Provo Food Blog!!


text:
Concerts and Recitals are held here regularly at Worcester Cathedral.
Apply to hold a Concert
If you are interested in holding a ticketed concert at Worcester Cathedral click here to find out more and fill in an enquiry form. If you would like to enquire about holding a Lunchtime concert or recital, please contact Christopher Allsop in our Music Department. See our up and coming concerts and recitals below or click Whats on?


text:
(6 Recipes) Created by 100TOLOSE59
Recipes in this Collection
Start with this simple but flavorful recipe, then add in anything you'd like! Try it with fresh herbs like chives, cilantro, rosemary, or thyme. Submitted by CHEF_MEG Carbs: 11.2g | Fat: 1.8g | Fiber: 2.9g | Protein: 3.6g | Calories: 65.2
Good 3.7/5
(3 ratings)
This is a quick low-fat dip that can be used for any occasion. Use Veggies or low-fat crackers to dip! Submitted by FREENSP70 Carbs: 4.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Fiber: 0.7g | Protein: 7.2g | Calories: 45.6
(no ratings)
This recipe is super easy, fast, nutritious, and delicious. Perfect as a lower-fat substitute for refried beans, or a different twist on hummus. Submitted by LOUISATHELAST Carbs: 4.3g | Fat: 0.9g | Fiber: 1.4g | Protein: 2g | Calories: 32.3
Very Good 4.6/5
(17 ratings)
Can be eaten as a snack or meal. Full of protein and veggies! Submitted by DIVINEMADNESS Carbs: 28.4g | Fat: 1.5g | Fiber: 5.7g | Protein: 14g | Calories: 182.4
Great on whole-wheat crackers or even toast. Carbs: 5.1g | Fat: 2.6g | Fiber: 1.6g | Protein: 2g | Calories: 50
Very Good 4.4/5
(53 ratings)
A healthy option for those of us who have put aside the Chip Dip! Submitted by TWICEAGAIN Carbs: 15.5g | Fat: 7.3g | Fiber: 3.3g | Protein: 4.2g | Calories: 138.5
Send this recipe collection to a friend - http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/cookbooks.asp?cookbook=764030


text:
Grass-green variety of beryl that is highly valued as a gemstone. Its physical properties are those of beryl. Its refractive and dispersive powers (i.e., its capacity to deflect light and to break white light into its component colours) are not high, so cut stones display little brilliancy or fire (flashes of colour). The colour that gives this gem its value is due to the presence of small amounts of chromium. The most important production of fine quality gem material is from Colombia; emeralds are also mined in Russia, Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Synthetic emeralds are identical to natural crystals and may rival them in colour and beauty.
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on emerald, visit Britannica.com.
Learn More About
Ask The Editor Videos
Seen & Heard
What made you look up emerald? Please tell us what you were reading, watching or discussing that led you here.


text:
Douay-Rheims (RHE) | New International Version (NIV) |
5 If thieves had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how wouldst thou have held thy peace? would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers had come in to thee, would they not have left thee at the least a cluster? | 5 "If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night-- Oh, what a disaster awaits you-- would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes? |
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain. (Douay Rheims Catholic Bible Translation Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


text:
Gear Review
Technine has def stepped up their binding game. i have had some in the past and was not impressed, but there new bindings are a big improvement. The T9 is a good all around binding and that toe strap is very comfortable. The release i a little tough to do, but all in all a good binding
View More Details on Technine T9 Snowboard Binding - Women's


text:
Douay-Rheims (RHE) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 And a while after, when the days of the wheat harvest were at hand, Samson came, meaning to visit his wife, and he brought her a kid of the flock. And when he would have gone into her chamber, as usual, her father would not suffer him, saying: | 1 Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, "I'm going to my wife's room." But her father would not let him go in. |
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain. (Douay Rheims Catholic Bible Translation Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


text:
This antique blue Distressed Photo Frame will be a great accent piece on a desk in the office, to a library shelf or any room in your house.
Use your favorite family photo, the grandchildren or other special photos in this 10 1/2" x 12 1/2" frame.
The inside photo size is 8" x 10" and this frame could be hung on the wall as well as sitting.
2 out of 2 found this review helpful.
Recommend: Yes
Just got this frame in the rustic blue and also the rustic red. The blue was for my granddaughters high school graduation picture and the red one was for her communion picture from years ago. I can not express how these frame brought out the colors in the pictures. Both are perfect matches. Never thought I would get such a great match buying something online, but I did. The frames are wood, they are made solid. Hobby Lobby ships them so perfect that there is no way they can get damaged in shipment. Very satisfied with my purchase. Am picking up more now in various sizes to redo all of the grandkids pics!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes No Report inappropriate review
We have a 3-5 day in-house process. There will be an additional 1-7 days for delivery. **During peak Holiday Seasons (Mother's Day & Christmas) it can take an additional 1-2 business days to get your order shipped.
We do not accept International orders online.
To place an order with an International billing or shipping address:
You will need to order by calling 405-745-1275. Customer Service is available Monday - Friday 8:00-5:00 CST.
Your order will need to ship to a US Destination, such as a freight forwarder. By doing so your order will be eligible for our US shipping rates which often include free shipping.
If you would like for us to ship your order directly to you, you will be charged the actual postage amount. That amount is calculated once your order is picked, packed and ready to ship. International shipping address are excluded from all shipping discounts. All orders shipped to an International location are charged the actual cost of shipping.
Please note that this policy does not include Military Addresses, Guam, Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands. We will accept and ship orders to these destinations.
Expedited shipping is unavailable at this time.
Shop Hobby Lobby Attention Customer Service 7600 A SW 44th St Oklahoma City, OK 73179
If you wish to exchange an item(s) you ordered for a new one:


text:
Accused Marathon Bomber's Friend Suspected Tsarnaev Was Wanted For Attacks
A friend of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev acknowledged Tuesday he suspected his friend was involved in the Boston Marathon bombings when he removed items from Tsarnaev's dorm room several days after the deadly attack.
Prosecutors Want To Know If Whitey Bulger Will Testify
The judge says she'll hear from lawyers about it after Wednesday's testimony ends.
Mass. DPH Head Doesn't Know Why NECC Escaped Severe Penalty In 2004
The head of the Massachusetts health department says investigators still don't know why regulators backed off a severe penalty against the New England Compounding Center in 2004.


text:
Hello, I'm new to the forum. I'm building a new home. Today I went by the house, the garage should have 2 single doors. However, it has one single door. Will this be hard to correct? They did not build the column in the middle. Thanks for any advice! |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by cold_weather_is_evil (My Page) on Sat, Apr 5, 14 at 20:00
How big? it's not just building a blank space in the middle; they might have to make the existing opening wider and you can't do that unless the garage itself is wide enough. The header beam also might have to be replaced, and that could mean re-framing the whole face of the garage. If you have a 16 foot door allowance, dividing it up leaves you with two doors about 7 feet wide. An 18 foot opening can get two 8 foot doors, still kinda narrow to drive through without someone goofing up somehow and whacking off a mirror eventually. When you use one door you use more than 50% of the space going in and out as two cars won't do that simultaneously. The two doors need a dead space between them and it will take up maybe a foot and a half minimum. |
When you have 2 single doors there is usually a raised concrete stem wall in between the two doors to keep the bottom framing plate from being constantly wet from snow/rain that collects on your vehicle and then drips when you drive in the garage. Hard to say if it will be an easy fix without knowing more details but if I paid for 2 doors I would want them regardless. |
Thanks for the responses. I forgot to mention that they have already installed the one big door. The roofing guy was there. He said "that was a big mistake". He also said they may be able to correct it. I emailed the realtor and she is contacting the builder. |
What does your contract say and what do your building plans show? |
I'll second what was said about the overall width of the garage. Make sure it's not too narrow now. |
If you don't absolutely hate it, perhaps you could upgrade something else for the cost it would be to replace. |
If your blueprints and your contract say two doors and you wanted two doors, you should complain -- politely but with conviction. Regardless, at this stage, I suspect you're more likely to get money back than to get the doors you actually wanted -- or you might be able to get a credit or an upgrade towards something else. Personally, I'd rather have the one big door. It's more versatile -- you can move big items in and out more easily, and if you ever needed to have a handicapped van in the garage, you'd be better off with the one big door. However, that's my opinion -- and we're talking about your money and your house. |
I agree and actually switched from two doors to one big door for one of our garages. More versatile. I also agree its your house and your money. |
- Posted by GreenDesigns (My Page) on Mon, Apr 7, 14 at 17:31
Pick your battles. The single door works better than two. Use the leverage to get something else that you want. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Building a Home Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here


text:
Loving this primer very much. Been a Monistat Chaffing Gel (MCG) user for a couple years now and was never really impressed because my foundation didnt last that long.
This is how I imagine a primer to be. The type that sinks in easily and dries (gets tacky for lack of a better word similar to what happens when you apply eyelid primer and rub it in). I think foundation never held up well with the MCG is because of the silicone which has slip to it and if you have foundation and a base that slips then well you foundation will move around and does not last as long.
This might be my new HG.
Just OK. It's an unscented gel that doesn't leave a white cast on my face. However, it seemed too moisturizing for my skin - I got oily and my makeup slid off my face. Won't be buying again...
I have the clear formula, and having dry skin I really really like this primer. It helps my foundation glide on and blend seamlessly.
It acts as a double up moisturizer for me, it also gives my foundations and skin a beautiful glowy/dewy look that I prefer. It doesn't do much for making my foundation last longer, but I don't have problems in that area anyways.
I have a 2 ounce container of this, and its lasted me about 2 years. Its about halfway gone, its great.
I don't think I'd reccomend to people with oily skin.
Yes I really like this. Its non-greasy, sinks in easily and gives a smooth lightweight finish. It just gives me a more refined look. I still like the hourglass primer but I think this is a lighter version of that. I highly recommend. Its hard to overdo and you can just slap it on and its low maintenance. I have repurchased this in ethereal glow already.
This Spackle has a nice consistency and it goes on smooth but that's about it. I found that after 6 hours or so my make up has worn off and I'm oily. Its a contrast from what I was using before which was Mally's Primer. My make up lasted almost all of my 12 hour shifts, I will return to Mally
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
This product is like a gel-cream in consistency. It goes on cool. And, I don't believe that it's ever broken me out.
This product acts like a moisturizer on my face and not a primer. I've never actually bought this product on its own. It would come in TSV's offered by Laura on QVC, that I'd buy. For me, it's not a must-have. As, I have tried better primers than this one. And, even though Laura says that you can apply it even up underneath your eyes, I have tried such and it would cause my eyes to tear up.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
More reviews by prettypollyperkins
This primer didn't work for me. After a few days I got the usual tiny bumps that I get when a primer is silicone-based but this felt different to other primers I've tried so I was optimistic it would work for me. It felt really nice going on and very cooling plus it didn't pill so I'm sad it didn't work out. It seems expensive but if you get the large size it's much better value - that is, if it works for you!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
I really, really wanted to like this product. I bought the Laura Geller travel set which came with the Spackle Under Make-Up Primer (1 oz., which is a great size!), their Balance N Brighten powder, a pretty, berry blush, a mini matt-maker powder, and a small blush brush (which is not good, because it sheds like crazy!). I have combo skin and thought the primer would work very well. I use the Smashbox primer, which is great but wanted to try something else. I was very disappointed because the Spackle primer breaks me out!!! :( The first time I used it, I applied in the morning before work and by the end of the day I had little red blemishes and bumps all over my chin. I didn't think at first it was because of the primer. It took a couple days to clear out. Then the next time I applied, AGAIN, blemishes all over my chin. I never, ever get break out on my chin area and this is the only product that could've caused it. Also, it does not make my make up last. Long story short, I do not like this primer and will not buy again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
Eh, this primer is okay. I bought a Laura Geller set as a TSV on QVC and this came in a 4 oz size, which is a giant squeeze tube with a twist on cap. I think it works fine as a primer as far as keeping the makeup on and preventing oxidation, but I don't really think it smoothes the surface of my skin too well. I have dry skin and get little flakes around my jawline and cheeks. This is just a little too thin/watery for my preference, and I find that by the end of my day (around 5-6 hours of wear) my makeup is still present and clinging to my patches. I'll finish it up, but I won't repurchase. I much prefer the bronze-n-brighten and rose gold highlighter from her collection. My favorite primer is Revlon's PhotoReady.


text: Please Remember Joan Broderick in Your Prayers St. Thomas Newsroom February 2, 2010 Please remember Joan Broderick, 76, in your thoughts and prayers. Broderick, of suburban Chicago, the mother of Deb Broderick, Personal Counseling and Testing, died Friday, Jan. 29, surrounded by family. Visitation and funeral will be held in Bartlett, Ill. Details, and an obituary and guest book, can be viewed here. Deb Broderick formerly worked at the Life Work Center on the Minneapolis campus.


text:
place to define and implement such a vision. The consequence of this lack of vision is that the necessary complementary investments that should be made by the semiconductor houses, the equipment vendors, and the service providers—all in support of a vision held in common— may not be made because of the risk of investing in areas that are not supported across the telecommunications industry.
The most successful visions will originate not only from new technological capabilities, but also from commercial and societal need. Execution of a vision requires not only the design and implementation of technology but also coordinated activities by regulators and government and industries such as those that finance the ventures. Thus it is important that not only industry, but also the brightest minds in academia and government and regulatory agencies be active participants. Also, although a U.S. vision would focus on the future of U.S. telecommunications applications and supporting infrastructure and services, the global range of both networks and technology supply chains means that coordination with global vision-setting efforts is essential.
Without a clear vision in place, the risk is that the U.S. telecommunications industry will take a "wait and see" approach and make as few risky investments as possible until a de facto vision is defined externally, either in the global telecommunications community by the few countries that take leadership roles, or by the international standards bodies (which in the absence of other leadership provide the de facto roadmaps for the introduction of new technology). Either path could have negative long-term effects on the U.S. economy if leadership in telecommunications moves to Asia and Europe and the United States has to play the role of a fast follower—a role to which we are generally unaccustomed.
The path through which new technologies are introduced varies considerably across different industries. Sometimes, an innovation can be made based on a small, local, granular investment. But more often, an advance requires complementary work to be done in a variety of areas by a variety of actors.
In the semiconductor industry, for example, the effort to bring ever-faster processors to market requires an entire industry to move together. Fabricators must make enormous investments in new manufacturing facilities, tooling companies must move to a next generation of fabrication processes, and microprocessor manufacturers must be convinced that a more powerful system will sufficiently expand the market to justify the investment.
Roadmapping is a process to address these complementarities. The semiconductor industry, for example, is guided by two fundamental elements. First, there is the semiconductor industry's International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS),2 a mechanism that allows all players to move to the next generation of technologies and practices smoothly and simultaneously.3 The ITRS identifies the short- and long-term technological challenges and needs facing the semiconductor industry. It is sponsored by the U.S.-based Semiconductor
2 |
See <http://public.itrs.net/>. |
3 |
For another overview of the semiconductor roadmap, see Bill Spencer, Linda Wilson, and Robert Doering, "The Semiconductor Technology Roadmap," Future Fab Intl., 18, January 2005, available online at <http://www.future-fab.com/documents.asp?d_ID=3004>. |


text:
Military Affairs
Paranoia, The Destroyer
Obviously, as one with a severe bent towards freedom, I think it is always advisable to keep a close eye on what our government is doing. Especially when it comes to said government granting itself extraordinary powers over the conduct of our lives, and/or over our liberty, in light of particular opinions we might hold, or because of the people we hang around with. The danger in allowing the government latitude to impinge upon our liberty in such cases should be apparent. However, sometimes people start seeing a red under their bed, or a little yellow man in their head, and act just a wee bit paranoid about actions that the government has proposed.
… legislation quietly making its way through Congress would give the White House power to categorize political opponents as hate groups and even send Americans to detention centers on abandoned military bases.
Rep. Alcee Hastings – the impeached Florida judge Nancy Pelosi tried to install as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee until her own party members rebelled – introduced an amendment to the defense authorization bill that gives Attorney General Eric Holder sole discretion to label groups that oppose government policy on guns, abortion, immigration, states' rights, or a host of other issues. In a June 25 speech on the House floor, Rep. Trent Franks, R-AZ, blasted the idea: "This sounds an alarm for many of us because of the recent shocking and offensive report released by the Department of Homeland Security which labeled, arguably, a majority of Americans as 'extremists.'"
Another Hastings bill (HR 645) authorizes $360 million in 2009 and 2010 to set up "not fewer than six national emergency centers on military installations" capable of housing "a large number of individuals affected by an emergency or major disaster." But Section 2 (b) 4 allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to use the camps "to meet other appropriate needs" – none of which are specified. This is the kind of blank check that Congress should never, ever sign.
It's not paranoid to be extremely wary of legislation that would give two unelected government officials power to legally declare someone a "domestic terrorist" and send them to a government-run camp.
(my emphasis)
In support of author Mark Tapscott's ipse dixit argument that this isn't paranoia, he points to the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII. That's a fair enough point (i.e. it has happened before here), but the analogy between Hastings' amendment and the WWII internment camps is still pretty weak. For one thing, the internments were not done on the sly, as Tapscott suggests is being done now, and secondly, rounding up a relatively small number of people during WWII, is a lot more plausible than attempting to imprison half the country.
Ed Morrissey also pours some cold water on Tapscott's theory:
To be fair on the second point, most legislation includes phrases similar to the "meet other appropriate needs" as a means of allowing flexibility in using facilities commissioned by Congress. Under unforeseen circumstances even apart from creating concentration camps for abortion opponents, the six national emergency centers might need to get some use other than housing military personnel or civilians evacuated from a disaster area. That language allows the Pentagon and Homeland Security leeway to adapt for other issues without having to worry that lawyers will descend upon them like locusts for not strictly limiting use to the statutes.
Nevertheless, I decided to delve into the Hastings amendment that Tapscott referred to, and which can be read in its entirety here (pdf). This is the pertinent language that woke some people up feelin' kinda queer:
'(2) DEFINITION OF HATE GROUP.—In this subsection, the terms 'group associated with hate-related violence' or 'hate group' mean the following: …
(G) Other groups or organizations that are determined by the Attorney General to be of a violent, extremist nature.
First of all, note the qualifier "violent" in that definition. Just being pro-life or anti-tax would not bring one under the aegis of this provision unless you also advocated violence in support of the cause.
The other part that seems to have been missed by some, is that this entire amendment is aimed at rooting out hate-group supporters from the military:
(1) PROHIBITION.—A person associated or affiliated with a group associated with hate-related violence against groups or persons or the United States Government, as determined by the Attorney General, may not be recruited, enlisted, or retained in the armed forces.
In other words, the worst thing that can happen as a result of this bill is that someone could be unfairly kept out of the military. I don't want that any more than I expect anyone else does, but it's sure a far cry from rounding up Republicans and throwing them in gulags.
That's not to say that there aren't problems with the amendment. As many of you probably already know, the military already has several provisions on the books prohibiting associations with extremist hate groups. Moreover, as Rep. Franks noted in arguing against the amendment, when viewed in light of the recent DHS report, allowing unelected and unaccountable officials to determine on their own who is an extremist or not seems like a pretty bad idea:
I take extreme offense that the federal government – through a report issued under the authority of a Cabinet-level official – would dare to categorize people who are "dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition or abortion or immigration" as "right-wing extremists" and it begs the question of whether the Attorney General, under Mr. Hastings' Amendment, can look to the Napolitano report to decide who is an extremist, or can make the same categorization of the majority of Americans as extremists who may then be kept from joining the military, or who may be discharged.
The desire to risk one's life on foreign soil for one's country may well be considered "extreme." To spill blood on a foreign battlefield in the name of freedom requires extreme devotion.
This amendment could have been written in a way that is more consistent with current DOD policy, which prohibits military personnel from participating in "organizations that espouse supremacist causes; or attempt to create illegal discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin…"
So, not only is Hastings' amendment redundant, it's also an undesirable (and perhaps unconstitutional) grant of power to the Attorney General. Clearly the amendment as drafted could use some work, and it should be watched and commented upon. However, none of it suggests that Hastings is planning on helping the Obama Administration to unilaterally declare "groups that oppose government policy on guns, abortion, immigration, states' rights, or a host of other issues" hate groups and then have them carted off to Guantanamo-on-the-Mainland.
heck, even Franks didn't go so far as to suggest that Democrats want to literally wall off their political rivals. Instead, he claimed that the real intentions of the House were not being reflected in the amendment:
The military has many laws and regulations in place to counter racism and the enlistment of racist militants. Recruits must be thoroughly vetted, and must even explain the symbolism behind their tattoos, body markings and writings. I understand that there is concern that the rules and regulations governing vetting of recruits are not being followed as vigilantly as they could be, and this is a legitimate cause for concern. At the same time, this is a call for better enforcement of the laws in place, rather than a sweeping categorization of persons as "extremists," as we saw in Janet Napolitano's agency's report.
I want to state unequivocally that I believe that it is not the intent of this Congress to label pro-lifers, federalism proponents, and pro-immigration enforcement groups and their affiliates as extremists under the bill. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle should make a strong effort to assuage these concerns and make our intentions clear.
(my emphasis)
Is this an example of poor legislative drafting? Sure. Is the Hastings amendment really necessary in light of existing military rules and regulations? Probably not. Is it a good idea to give unaccountable officials the power to label groups of Americans as extremists simply because of some opinions that they might hold? No, no it isn't. Does this amendment represent an empowerment of the federal government to intern a large swath of conservative America? Don't be so paranoid.
Calling the government to account for straying outside it's bounds of power is always a good idea, but being paranoid about it doesn't help your cause, and may in fact hurt it. You're blowing it all with paranoia. You may be feelin' guilty, feelin' scared, seeing hidden cameras everywhere, but you've got to Stop! Hold on. Stay in control.
'Cuz paranoia is the destroyer.
F-35: Last Manned Fighter?
Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, seems to think that may be the case.
So, what the aviation side of this is, I think, is very much focused on this change. And I think we're at the beginning of this change. I mean, there are those that see JSF as the last manned fighter — or fighter-bomber, or jet. And I'm one of — you know, I'm one that's inclined to believe that. I don't know if that's exactly right. But, this all speaks to the change that goes out, you know, many — obviously, decades, including how much unmanned we're going to have and how it's going to be resourced.
I'm not one inclined to believe that necessarily (at least not with the technology today). Although I did read that the Air Force will, this year for the first time, train more UAV pilots than fighter pilots, I think there will always be a role for fighter pilots in combat. Why? Because of the air superiority role. UAVs – drones if you prefer – can fulfill the close air support role, and even a tactical and strategic bombing role. But, at least with the technology we have today, I simply can't see an unmanned "fighter" having the advantage over a manned fighter in the air superiority role.
And without air superiority, you don't fly UAVs.
Here's someone who agrees with Mullen:
I guess I'm with Mullen; there are currently jobs that manned warplanes can do that drones can't perform (human pilots are more visually capable than even the best drones, for example), but a) drones are getting better, b) drones are so much cheaper, and c)taking the pilot out means that you can do a lot of funky, interesting things with an advanced airframe. This isn't to say that the F-35 (or even the F-22) have no role; they'll continue to be useful frames for the jobs they're intended to do for a substantial period of time. But I don't think there's a next "next generation" of fighter aircraft.
Addressing b) above, things like this don't help the manned fighter side. But then "cheap" doesn't always translate into "most effective" either.
Know Thy Enemy – And Loath Him
And after reading this, it won't be hard to do:
Pakistan's top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, is buying children as young as 7 to serve as suicide bombers in the growing spate of attacks against Pakistani, Afghan and U.S. targets, U.S. Defense Department and Pakistani officials say.
A Pakistani official, who spoke on the condition that he not be named because of the sensitive nature of the topic, said the going price for child bombers was $7,000 to $14,000 – huge sums in Pakistan, where per-capita income is about $2,600 a year.
"[Mehsud] has turned suicide bombing into a production output, not unlike [the way] Toyota outputs cars," a U.S. Defense Department official told reporters recently. He spoke on the condition that he not be named because of ongoing intelligence efforts to catch Mehsud, a prime target for a U.S. and Pakistani anti-Taliban campaign.
People like Mehsud claim to represent a religion of peace and act on its behalf. Yet no religion of peace would ever sanction or condone actions such as this. Perhaps it is time we quit accepting their stated claims that they're Islamic warriors and call them what they deserve to be called – animals barely worth the price of a bullet.
Rarely will you find me using the term "exterminate". But when I read things like this, I truly believe that the Taliban are more than deserving of complete and utter extermination. This is a "seed" which needs to germinate no further.
God speed to the 4,000 Marines who've just launched Operation Khanjar. May their aim be true enough to bring down this miserable swine somewhere along the line.
About Those "New Tough Measures" Against NoKo
You have to laugh some times. Or maybe a rueful shake of the head is more appropriate. Here's Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, answering questions about the reportedly tough measures the new UN resolution against NoKo allows the country, via the military, to take:
Q: Admiral Mullen, Secretary Gates, currently the U.S. military is tracking a North Korean-flagged ship, the Kang Nam, which is suspected of proliferating either weaponry, nuclear materials or missile parts. What are your options n terms of enforcing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874? Are you prepared to board the ship at this time?
ADM. MULLEN: Without going into specific details, clearly we're — we intend to vigorously enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874, to include — options to include certainly a hail and query. There are — part of the UNSCR is to, if a vessel like this is queried and doesn't allow a permissive search, to direct it to go into a port, and the country of that port would, as required to, inspect the vessel, and to also keep the United Nations informed, obviously, if a vessel like this would refuse to comply.
But the United Nations Security Council resolution does not include an option for an opposed boarding or a noncompliant boarding with respect to that. And if we get to that point with a vessel that we suspect has material which is counter to — unauthorized in accordance with UNSCR, that's a report that goes back to the United Nations as well.
Q: What do you think is on board this ship? What has made you suspicious that the military's tracking it?
ADM. MULLEN: Well, I wouldn't go into any kind of details, at this particular point in time, except to say that it's very clear that the resolution prohibits North Korea from shipping these kinds of materials, the kinds of weapons that were laid out, in the material, from conventional weapons up to fissile material or nuclear weapons.
And we expect compliance. And I've gone through the steps that we would take.
Q: The north has said that they would take that, any sort of interdiction, as an act of war. Would that prevent you from pursuing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874?
ADM. MULLEN: Well, I think, it's important that this is a U.N. resolution. This is an international commitment. It's not just the United States. It's a lot of other countries as well. And the North taking steps to further isolate itself, to further non-comply with international guidance and regulations, in the long-run, puts them in a more difficult position.
With all due respect to Adm. Mullen, I'm having real difficulty, given what he said they could do -essentially send a report to the UN if NoKo doesn't play along with the demands he's authorized to make- seeing how NoKo is putting themselves "in a more difficult position" than they now occupy. More importantly, why would NoKo care?
Reading this carefully, it seems the UN has authorized them to "query" a NoKo ship and ask to inspect it. NoKo can say "no". If NoKo says no, we can demand they go to the nearest port for inspection. But again, all the NoKo ship has to do is say "no" and that ends it. Result: Strong report sent to UN. Sounds more like punishment for those who have to fill out the report to the UN than NoKo.
Where else in the universe are such steps considered "tough" besides the UN?
NoKo: Pressing Buttons
Kim Jong-Il is apparently not content with good old-fashioned saber rattling, and instead wants to push the envelope (or the button, as it were) a little further:
North Korea may fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii in early July, a Japanese news report said Thursday, as Russia and China urged the regime to return to international disarmament talks on its rogue nuclear program.
The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers), would be launched from North Korea's Dongchang-ni site on the northwestern coast, said the Yomiuri daily, Japan's top-selling newspaper. It cited an analysis by the Japanese Defense Ministry and intelligence gathered by U.S. reconnaissance satellites.
The missile launch could come between July 4 and 8, the paper said.
While the newspaper speculated the Taepodong-2 could fly over Japan and toward Hawaii, it said the missile would not be able to hit Hawaii's main islands, which are about 4,500 miles (7,200 kilometers) from the Korean peninsula.
A spokesman for the Japanese Defense Ministry declined to comment on the report. South Korea's Defense Ministry and the National Intelligence Service — the country's main spy agency — said they could not confirm it.
If North Korea does carry out such a plan, it would be a most provocative act, bordering on a casus belli. Figuratively speaking, it would not be any different than the child's game of swinging one's arms within inches of one's sibling while declaring "not touching!" In realpolitik terms, it is simply a threat.
Of course, the real question is, what do we do about it?
President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met in Washington on Tuesday for a landmark summit in which they agreed to build a regional and global "strategic alliance" to persuade North Korea to dismantle all its nuclear weapons. Obama declared North Korea a "grave threat" to the world and pledged that the new U.N. sanctions on the communist regime will be aggressively enforced.
In Seoul, Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho told a forum Thursday that the North's moves to strengthen its nuclear programs is "a very dangerous thing that can fundamentally change" the regional security environment. He said the South Korean government is bracing for "all possible scenarios" regarding the nuclear standoff.
In a rare move, leaders of Russia and China used their meetings in Moscow on Wednesday to pressure the North to return to the nuclear talks and expressed "serious concerns" about tension on the Korean peninsula.
The joint appeal appeared to be a signal that Moscow and Beijing are growing impatient with Pyongyang's stubbornness. Northeastern China and Russia's Far East both border North Korea, and Pyongyang's unpredictable actions have raised concern in both countries.
After meetings at the Kremlin, Chinese President Hu Jintao joined Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in urging a peaceful resolution of the Korean standoff and the "swiftest renewal" of the now-frozen talks involving their countries as well as North and South Korea, Japan and the United States.
"Russia and China are ready to foster the lowering of tension in Northeast Asia and call for the continuation of efforts by all sides to resolve disagreements through peaceful means, through dialogue and consultations," their statement said.
Keep in mind, as well, that North Korea need not tip anyone of those missiles with a nuclear warhead (which it does not yet have the capability to do) in order to pose a significant threat. Reportedly, the Stalinist regime is well-equipped with chemical weapons as well:
The independent International Crisis Group think tank, meanwhile, said the North's massive stockpile of chemical weapons is no less serious a threat to the region than its nuclear arsenal.
It said the North is believed to have between 2,500 and 5,000 tons of chemical weapons, including mustard gas, phosgene, blood agents and sarin. These weapons can be delivered with ballistic missiles and long-range artillery and are "sufficient to inflict massive civilian casualties on South Korea."
Although the nations involved have been ready to talk sternly about "grave threats" and to urge further negotiations to quell the tensions, Kim Jong-Il is notably unimpressed. Rather than seeking to retard the North Korean leader's ambitions, everyone seems insistent upon being cautions in order to avoid "provoking" Kim Jong-Il. That is a shrewd plan when dealing with a crazy person, but in the end, a bully is just a bully, whether he's crazy or not.
Unfortunately, at some point a swift smack on the nose will be necessary if we truly want to back the recalcitrant dictator up a step or two, which admittedly carries its own unfortunate possibilities. Even if that point is not now, or if and when North Korea sends its missiles hurling dangerously close to our sovereign territory, it does seem to be approaching quickly. Given the rather meek approach taken by all nations thus far, one can only hope that Kim's own machinations do him under before the international community's hand is forced.
What Would Rommel Say?
He certainly wouldn't be happy, that's for sure. Germany's top soldier isn't happy with his troops either. Speaking about German soldier complaints about their deployments he said:
"We cannot guarantee soldiers that they will have an all-round feel-good experience," said General Wolfgang Schneiderhan.
"We have to tell a professional soldier who complains about his third tour of overseas duty that he has to get a grip — this is his profession," said General Schneiderhan.
"Perhaps the problem is down to the general tendency in society to delegate responsibility to someone else, or perhaps it is the stress associated with change," he told several hundred army officers and politicians at an official reception.
Ah, social welfare – it does change a culture, doesn't it? And although the Germans have been a part of the ISAF in Afghanistan since 2001, other members of the NATO team have voiced dissatisfaction with their performance. That may be because they are participating (I hesitate to use the word "fighting") with one hand tied behind their back:
German Medevac helicopters have to be back at base by dusk. German Tornado aircraft are restricted to unarmed reconnaissance. Der Spiegel magazine highlighted the case recently of a Taleban commander — nicknamed the Baghlan Bomber because of his role in blowing up a sugar factory in that northwestern province — who was cornered by the KSK German special service unit but allowed to escape; under the terms of engagement imposed by Parliament the KSK are not authorised to kill unless they are under attack.
So since they don't fight at night (unless they're willing to do it without medevac support), what do they do? Well, they drink. Forget cultural sensitivity, the German force of 3,500 goes through 90,000 bottles of wine and 1.7 million pints of beer a year:
The reports of soldiers' complaints made to parliament by Reinhold Robbe, the ombudsman, paint a picture of a force that is concentrating more on its own wellbeing than on the peace-keeping mission.
The diet is heavy on carbohydrates, low on fruit and a higher proportion of soldiers are overweight than in the civilian population of Germany. Mr Robbe admitted that too many soldiers had a "passive lifestyle". In short the soldiers are fat, they drink too much and spend a great deal of time moaning.
Truly signs of a very unhealthy force in more ways than one. And this is one of our primary NATO allies? And we wonder why Afghanistan is going so swimmingly?
Miranda and War
An interesting discussion broke out in the comment section of the Miranda post, which I'm hoping will continue. The primary issue (and I'm simplifying here) centers around just how detainees caught on a battlefield should be handled if they don't fit the established parameters of soldiers under the Geneva Conventions. Although there appears to be agreement that reading detainees Miranda rights is a step (or three) too far, there is also wide agreement that we should be skeptical about allowing our government so much latitude as to hold anyone indefinitely. I think closing the gap on those parameters is the challenge to be met, but I don't think it is possible to do so without understanding how war differs from law enforcement.
Clausewitz defined war as "continuation of policy with other means." The crux of his definition is that "war" is simply a tactic used to further political goals. War is not waged as end in itself, but as a means towards other ends which, for whatever reason, could not be accomplished through non-violent tactics. There are always exceptions, of course, but certainly a rational state will not expend blood and treasure when the same goals can be accomplished without. Even an irrational state, with irrational goals, will not waste such resources if it understands that it does not have to.
The other tools in the box for continuing policy include diplomacy and capitulation. Once those are deemed exhausted or unacceptable (as the case may be) then the tool of war is likely to appear. In other words, if agreement cannot be reached between erstwhile enemies, and surrender by one side or the other is not acceptable, then actual battle will be necessary to decide whose policy will be continued. At that point all manner of understanding between the parties is dead and only victory or a credible threat thereof will allow the discarded tools to once again be used in the construction of policy.
In the absence of war, there is general agreement as to how competing parties will conduct themselves in the pursuit of their policies. Citizens may vote, senators may argue, special interests may agitate, and whole nations may barter. The agreements may deal with how citizens deal with one another, how governments deal with their citizens, or how violations of the agreements are handled (i.e. law enforcement). In the modern world those general agreements are reduced to treaties, constitutions, rules, regulations and the like, all of which may be considered law. The policies themselves may also be enacted into law, but without some understanding as to the mechanisms for peacefully deciding which policy will be followed, then war is the only tool available. A rule of law, which is only useful where there is broad agreement on it, obviates the need to use war to advance policy. All of the foregoing are the hallmarks of a civil society that depends on pursuing policies through peaceful tactics. To turn Clauswitz's definition around, law is the continuation of war by other means.
To be sure, transgressors of law will be dealt with at times in violent ways, but there is at least a tacit agreement to the law's authority to do so where the violator is operating from within the society and generally partaking of its benefits. If enough transgressors get together then the agreements have broken down, and civil war or revolution may occur. Therefore, war can be understood as the tactic that is used when the law has ceased to be of use. More simply, war is the absence of law.
Given the above, which is nothing more than a condensed version of my personal views on the subject, it is difficult for me to understand how legal concepts can be introduced into war. Opposing factions may agree with one another to fight under particular rules of engagement, or to treat enemy prisoners a certain way, but when those rules are broken there is no legitimate authority to enforce them. The Geneva Conventions represent a more elaborate attempt to impose limits on warfare, but even those were never intended to apply to non-signatories except in very limited circumstances (pre-Hamdan anyway). More importantly, it seems obviously ludicrous to apply laws outside such limited agreement to any of the parties involved in battle, because there would be no battle if such laws were being adhered to in the first place.
So while any number of parties may agree amongst themselves to fight under self-imposed rules, that does not give any of them authority to impose those rules on others. Furthermore, except where explicitly agreed to otherwise, such rules would not govern war between a party to such an agreement and a non-party. To look at it another way, if Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield agree to fight under certain sanctioned rules, that does not mean that either fighter must adhere to the same rules if attacked by a third party on the way home from the match.
Accordingly, in a world of asymmetrical warfare, the basic principle that "war is the absence of law" seems to apply. In this context, the very idea of approaching war with terrorists in foreign countries under a rubric of law intended to govern domestic life appears absurdly out of place. Treating detainees captured on the battlefield to the luxury of legal niceties intended to protect the very citizens those terrorists seek to harm defies all logic. And pretending that reading any of them Miranda rights will do anything more than hamper our ability to defeat these cretins is an exercise in serious delusion. In short, law is a manifestation of the agreements underlying a peaceful community, and war is the means of protecting those agreements from those who seek to subvert them.
When considering just where the line should be drawn then, between reading enemies their "rights" and allowing the government to detain them indefinitely, I think it's useful to understand that we are not really talking about a "rule of law." Instead, we are talking about how best to utilize the tactic of war in furthering our policy of not allowing crazed radicals to murder our citizens. While I find great merit in placing the government (i.e. our instrument of war) on a firm leash, I don't think it is at all useful to conflate the means by which we protect ourselves from an overbearing government with the means by which the government protects us from enemies bent on our destruction.
Miranda Warnings In The Battlefield?
This simply can't be right, can it? That the Obama administration secretly directed the military to Mirandize combatants and terrorists when captured? Surely this is just crazy talk:
… the Obama Justice Department has quietly ordered FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high value detainees captured and held at U.S. detention facilities in Afghanistan, according a senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. "The administration has decided to change the focus to law enforcement. Here's the problem. You have foreign fighters who are targeting US troops today – foreign fighters who go to another country to kill Americans. We capture them…and they're reading them their rights – Mirandizing these foreign fighters," says Representative Mike Rogers, who recently met with military, intelligence and law enforcement officials on a fact-finding trip to Afghanistan.
Rogers, a former FBI special agent and U.S. Army officer, says the Obama administration has not briefed Congress on the new policy. "I was a little surprised to find it taking place when I showed up because we hadn't been briefed on it, I didn't know about it. We're still trying to get to the bottom of it, but it is clearly a part of this new global justice initiative."
Ever since the Boumediene decision I've been warning that we're turning legitimate military actions into law enforcement nightmares. No matter how badly we may want to achieve a world where transparency and the rule of law are the basis for all government action, the fact of the matter is that there are plenty of people out there who want to see the US destroyed regardless of the cost to themselves or their families. If we start dealing with these people as if they were common criminals, then we erode the very fabric that binds us as a nation. No longer does the word "jurisdiction" mean anything. Instead, we hand our enemies the keys to the castle.
Consider the following:
A lawyer who has worked on detainee issues for the U.S. government offers this rationale for the Obama administration's approach. "If the US is mirandizing certain suspects in Afghanistan, they're likely doing it to ensure that the treatment of the suspect and the collection of information is done in a manner that will ensure the suspect can be prosecuted in a US court at some point in the future."
But Republicans on Capitol Hill are not happy. "When they mirandize a suspect, the first thing they do is warn them that they have the 'right to remain silent,'" says Representative Pete Hoekstra, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. "It would seem the last thing we want is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other al-Qaeda terrorist to remain silent. Our focus should be on preventing the next attack, not giving radical jihadists a new tactic to resist interrogation–lawyering up."
According to Mike Rogers, that is precisely what some human rights organizations are advising detainees to do. "The International Red Cross, when they go into these detention facilities, has now started telling people – 'Take the option. You want a lawyer.'"
Rogers adds: "The problem is you take that guy at three in the morning off of a compound right outside of Kabul where he's building bomb materials to kill US soldiers, and read him his rights by four, and the Red Cross is saying take the lawyer – you have now created quite a confusion amongst the FBI, the CIA and the United States military. And confusion is the last thing you want in a combat zone."
Prosecution of any war, regardless of what your betters may think, is absolutely impossible in a law enforcement setting. Imagine having to "arrest" enemy soldiers instead of shooting them on sight. Or worse, think about the complications involved when a soldier shoots anyone, as compared to when a policeman is involved in a shooting. How would it work to take custody or extract intelligence from any enemy soldier if our soldiers have to apply mercurial Supreme Court precedent to each situation before risking their lives? Any cop will tell you that it's hard enough keeping up with the norms as laid down by the high court (and interpreted by the administrators) in order to simply arrest common criminals. The idea that soldiers in the field of battle have the time or ability to "arrest" terrorists and the like, in places where English is not likely to be a common language (N.B. does that mean the military will be required to provide interpreters before apprehending anyone?) is simply ludicrous.
War is not pretty, and anyone who pretends to make it so is simply a fool. Ugly, unmentionable, outrageous and despicable things happen in war, as they do in any struggle for life. Creating an imaginary world in which there are breaks for tea and the enemy plays by the same (or any) rules is how the British lost North America. Subjecting ourselves to the vagaries or our enemy's backwardness, by ignoring their complete denial of our moral superiority, will only serve to hasten our defeat.
For the foregoing reasons, I have to assume that Stephen Hayes is on the wrong end of some very bad information. As much as I may disagree with the Obama administration on a great many things, I have a hard time believing that they could be this naive and unconcerned about the future of our country that they would grant unprecedented gratuity to those who most wish us ill. The policies are most certainly wrong, but they can't possibly be this misguided.
SCOTUS Says "No" To "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Challenge
The court chose not to hear the suit which challenged it, brought by an Army CPT, preferring, instead, to let the Obama administration deal with the subject. CPT Pietrangelo was originally 1 of 12 petitioners challenging DADT in court. Their case was dismissed by the 1st Circuit, but unlike the other 11 who chose to not appeal and let the Obama administration handle it, Pietrangelo appealed to SCOTUS. The result is as reported in the lede.
However, here's the confusing part:
In opposing Supreme Court review of the Pietrangelo case, opponents of "don't ask, don't tell" have noted that Obama pledged during his presidential election campaign to end the policy. They say he appears to proceeding carefully to end the ban by first asking the Pentagon to study the implications and report its recommendations.
Why? Why is he "proceeding carefully"? One would assume that when someone declares he is going to end a policy, he has already gathered the information and done the studies necessary to understand the implications of changing such a policy might have before he declared he'd do it, right? [For the record I have no problem with trashing DADT.]
Oh wait, this is the same guy who declared he'd close Gitmo and end the Iraq war immediately after taking office, do away with FISA and hold the telcoms responsible, and have nothing to do with jailing bad guys indefinitely if they merely posed a threat to the US isn't it?
Uh, nevermind.
D-Day plus 65 years
Yesterday evening I thought about what was occurring at the same time 65 years before in Europe. Young paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions as well as the British 6th Airborne Divison and 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion were headed in for night combat jumps with the mission of securing key bridges and road junctions and setting up blocking positions to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the beaches of Normandy. Of the 17,000 US airborne troops engaged in operation Overlord, 1,003 were KIA, 2,657 were WIA and 4,490 were declared MIA.
At the same time, off that coast, the largest amphibious assault fleet the world had ever seen, drawn from 8 allied navies (6,939 vessels: 1,213 warships, 4,126 transport vessels (landing ships and landing craft), and 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels), began gathering. 19 and 20 year old young men, who to that point had never seen a shot fired in anger nor fired one themselves, would get their baptism in war on Omaha, Gold, Utah, Swordand Juno beaches. In all 160,000 allied troops would land that day.
At Pointe du Hoc, the US 2nd Ranger Battalion assaulted the massive concrete gun emplacements that commanded the beach landing sites. They had to scale 100 foot cliffs under enemy automatic gunfire to reach them. When they did, the found out the guns had been moved further inland. They pressed their assault, found them and destroyed them and then defended the location for two days until relieved. The operation cost them 60% casualties. Of the 225 rangers who began the operation, only 90 were still able to fight at its end.
On Omaha beach, the US 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions landed opposite the veteran German 352nd Infantry Division. They had sited their defensive positions well and built concrete emplacements which were all but immune from bombardment. The initial assault waves of tanks, infantry and engineers took heavy casualties. Of the 16 tanks that landed upon the shores of Omaha Beach only 2 survived the landing. The official record stated that "within 10 minutes of the ramps being lowered, [the leading] company had become inert, leaderless and almost incapable of action. Every officer and sergeant had been killed or wounded […] It had become a struggle for survival and rescue". Only a few gaps were blown in the beach obstacles, resulting in problems for subsequent landings.
Leaders considered abandoning Omaha, but the troops that had landed refused to stay trapped in a killing zone. In many cases, led by members of the 5th Ranger Battalion which had been mistakenly landed there, they formed ad hoc groups and infantrymen infiltrated the beach defenses and destroyed them, eventually opening the way for all. Of the 50,000 soldiers that landed, 5,000 became casualties of bloody Omaha.
Canadian forces landed at Juno. The first wave suffered 50% casualties in the ferocious fighting. The Canadians had to fight their way over a sea wall which they successfully did. The 6th Canadian Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars) and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada achieved their 6 June objectives, when they drove over 15 kilometres (9 mi) inland. In fact, they were the only group to reach their D-Day objectives.
By the end of D-Day, 15,000 Canadians had been successfully landed, and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had penetrated further into France than any other Allied force, despite having faced strong resistance at the water's edge and later counterattacks on the beachhead by elements of the German 21st and 12th SS Hitlerjugend Panzer divisions on June 7 and June 8.
The Brits landed at Sword and Gold beaches. At Gold the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division landed with heavy casualties, but overcame the obstacles and drove about 10 kilometers off the beach.
Led by amphibious tanks of the 13th and 18th Hussars, the landings on Sword went rather well with elements of the 8th Infantry Brigade driving 8 kilometers off the beach.
And the final beach, Utah, saw the 23,000 troops of the US 4th Infantry Division land. Through a navigation error they landed on the western most part of the beach. That happened to be the most lightly defended as well. Taking full advantage of the situation, the division fought their way off the beach and through the German defenses linking up with the 502nd and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments of the 101st Airborne Division which had dropped in the night before and secured the inland side of the beach exits.
The liberation of Europe had begun. But it was costly. Of the total 10,000 casualties suffered that day on the beaches by the allies, the US had 6,603 of which 1,465 were killed in action. The Canadians suffered 1,074 casualties (359 KIA) and the British had 2,700.
Men who had never set foot on the continent of Europe before died trying to liberate it that day. Today most of them lie in quiet graveyards near where they fell, the only piece of land ever claimed, as Colin Powell said, was enough to lay them to rest. 65 years ago, as the guns boomed, the shells exploded and desperate and courageous men made life and death decisions on the bloody sands of Normandy beaches, the fate of the world literally hinged on their success.
I think it is important, on this day to remember that. It is also just as important to remember that had the rest of the world taken the threat posed by the evil of Nazi Germany seriously earlier than they did, the possibility exists that such a fateful landing would never have been necessary.
But it was. And to those who made it, liberated Europe and destroyed the evil that was Nazi Germany, they have my undying respect and deserve to have what they did -and why they did it – remembered by all for eternity.